Slow Down to Move Faster

Have you ever clicked "send" and realized there was an error in your memo or an important thought or call to action was left out of your email?  These mistakes can move you further away from your goals rather than closer to them.

"I'm under the gun."  "I want to be first to market."  "I need to beat my competition to the punch."  All of these things show passion and drive, but without planning and attention to detail, your message will be lost.

A quick, but funny example:

"Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."

Programs can identify spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, but they cannot help you with the clarity and flow of your message.   Just like spelling, your objective and message are clear in your head and this may result in missed errors when proofreading; it is imperative you have clearly communicated your thoughts and calls to action to your audience.

You are busy, your team is busy - your boss and potential clients are certainly busy.  Do not waste their valuable time or lose that opportunity because you had such desire to be heard or first to their inbox.

Slow down to move faster.

What happened to the practice of conversation and the art of debate?  Why are certain topics off limits at all times? For some reason we are no longer happy with a simple exchange of information and learning from one another; now someone has to win.
Political correctness, self-importance, ignorance - cast these things away.  Research what you do not know, trust and ask those around you for their thoughts, and accept that you may be wrong.
Conversation is not a competition, but an opportunity to learn.
Who wants to sit down for coffee?

Tough Talks

Manager, boss, parent, coach, friend, or neighbor - difficult conversations are going to happen.  The worst thing to do is to not have them and hope the situation or problem will correct itself; it won't.  

Do not fear the conversation: prepare your facts, figure out how you will deliver the message, set aside time for the conversation, then have it.  Treat the employee, vendor, child, or partner with respect, give them time to respond and give feedback.  Ensure you are both on the same page before the conversation ends.

You may both learn something.